As the battle raged on, more of Barkis's true character was revealed. Despite Victor's inexperience at fighting, he was doing surprisingly well at defending himself against the false lord and his dirty tricks.

"I say that's not fair." One of dead complained as Victor barely managed to avoid a particularly dirty move. Barkis in his fury had turned to strike the corpse…only to hit air. The corpse had split in half.

Barkis growled out his anger and then continued his attack on Victor with renewed vigor. At one point Victor had been knocked under a table and Barkis thrust the sword repeatedly through the top of the table in an attempt to impale the young man. There was a sudden ripping sound. For a moment a wicked grin came across Barkis's face.

"The better man won." Barkis boasted. To his shock however, his rival got back up and stood there defiantly to the cheers of the crowd.

"That's it man!"

"You show that no good breather!"

"Yeah!"

Barkis was momentarily confused…until he saw a large tear that ran down one of the Van Dort's boy's sleeves. "You! Why won't you stay dead!" He snarled before attacking once more.

Victor is caught off guard. He raised the serving fork once again to defend himself…only to have it knocked violently out of his hands. The force of the blow sends the fork several feet away and forced Victor to the ground. Barkis stood above him triumphant.

"And now it ends." He said smugly. A sudden clatter caused him to turn his head. He frowned deeply as he saw his Victoria pick up the serving fork. Without a word he strolled down the aisle intent on teaching his wife a lesson.

Victoria picked up the fork in time to see her husband approach. "Stay back!" She warned while holding the weapon in her shaking hands.He knocked the weapon out of her hands and smirked as she continued to back away from him.

"You see my dear wife…without your dowry… you are completely…expendable." Victoria tripped and fell to the ground. She watched horrified as Barkis held the sword above her. As he raised it behind his head, he felt it become lodged in something. He turned around.

Emily was there and glared darkly at the evil man. The weapon had struck the hole in her side. Without a word, she grabbed the sword's handle and pulled it out her body. She then aimed it firmly at Barkis. Everyone in the church gasped out in horror as they realize the truth. Barkis Bittern had not just abandoned Emily…he had also murdered her.

Barkis glared back. "Touché, My Dear." He said before proceeding to walk to the table at the front of the church. Once there he had noticed the "wine" and the goblet. He smirked and then poured himself a drink from the red bottle. The wicked man then turned and raised the glass to the crowd.

"A Toast! To Emily! Always the Bridesmaid…and never the Bride." He mocked. Emily was too upset to correct him as Barkis continued on with his toast. Her friends were furious, but managed to stay seated…this was after all a church.

Barkis didn't seem to care and added the final barb. "Can a heart still break after it has stopped beating?" He smirked. That did it. Emily dropped the sword, and started to fall on the ground in her despair, but firm hands kept her from falling. She looked up and saw her husband and Victoria on both sides supporting her.

Emily's friends were enraged. They knew how much the cruel words had hurt the dear bride and they were determined to teach the evil breather a lesson. They rose from there seats, and stormed forward. Elder Gutknecht quickly stops them.

"This is the land of the living. We must abide by there rules." The ancient skeleton insisted. The dead looked dejected. That is until Barkis who was still gloating, drains the goblet.

For a brief moment he savors what he thought was a fine wine, before proceeding to walk out the side door in the front of the church in his haughty manner. He was reaching out to open the door when suddenly he was overcome by a very violent coughing fit.

"Not anymore!" Maggot gloats gleefully. Victoria was a bit alarmed and reluctantly started to walk forward to help her husband. A cold hand on her wrist stopped her and she looked over to see Victor and Emily. "It's best you stay out of the way." Emily said quietly.

Victoria stared at her. "It's my duty as a…wife…to help my…husband….no matter how despicable he is." She moved forward once more and is again stopped. "It's no longer your duty." Victor said and gestured to the wicked lord.

Victoria is a bit alarmed to see Victor and Emily were smiling darkly. The Victorian lady had wondered why, until she noticed her husband's coughing had stopped. Barkis then turned around and she gasped.

Barkis Bittern had felt overwhelming pain and his black heart beat frantically as it became harder and harder to breathe…then it was over. To his confusion, he no longer heard his heart beat. His confusion then turned to dread…and he spun around. To his horror he saw the dead crowd approaching him with grins on there faces. He then realized what had happened. He was no longer protected by the rules of the living.

"No! Nooo!" He screamed out in horror as he frantically tried to get the door open. He was too late. The crowd attacks him and forces him through the door. Barkis was still screaming as Mrs. Plum started to close the door.

"New Arrival." Mrs. Plum states with glee. After a moment she spoke again. "We'll have the reception later." She added before closing the door completely.